Juggling act…

After a day of painting I flop exhausted into the car to drive home. The phone immediately rings. “Have you reserved the moving truck?”  I glance at the clock– it’s 8:30pm. I concede that I’ve been painting and working the past 10 hours straight– no truck is reserved. Fortunately, Gene offers to cover that for me. After a shower, I spent a couple hours clearing the furniture we’ll be moving on Wednesday.

This morning I went in to work. It was a holiday but there were a few must-do work items that needed attention.

After wrapping those up and producing an additional requested before/after plan to add to my permit review packet, I hustle that new plan over to permitting. Phew–they were actually open on President’s Day. Then I was off to pack some boxes and move things to the house. A text arrived from Karen– she was already at the house painting. After dropping off another load of stuff at the house and noting that Karen was pretty well set without me, I followed up on other items. A returned call came from a door supplier. Unfortunately, the call didn’t share the whole story; I won’t know that until later. Then I was off to Home Depot for paint as Karen was running low. Along the way I enjoyed the humor of someone who may still be wondering where their umbrella went (see photo.) In the driveway a call came in from Troy checking on the status of the permit and other projects at the house.

After returning with the paint, I was off to the door supplier in Vancouver. En route another text arrives from Gene– he seems to be responding to a text message from a few days ago. Once at the door shop, they informed me that hanging any door would take at least a week. Not a suitable door there I could have packed up and taken with me. I stopped by the Beaverton Home Depot and bought a new front door and the door for the utility room/garage. While lashing them into the back of Karen’s station wagon, a call came in from Rich the inspector, “Are you close by? Can you come by my office?” It’s 4:30 and I’m in Beaverton–not a chance. Rich says there’s information missing from my rafter plan– probably because I scrambled to create it when the truss people didn’t come through. I mentally noted to visit with Rich after the fireplace inspection at the house Tuesday morning.

I carefully piloted my new doors home and my neighbor, Dorothy, helped me remove them from the back and carry them inside. That’s when Karen texted to see when I might be back with the wagon. That was good timing as I was  just loading up the painting gear she brought, and only needed to run to the gas station before returning it to her. Upon arrival at Karen and Randy’s was the next message from Troy checking if I just ordered doors or actually have them. It’s 7:45pm and I’m finally home for the night. Tonight maybe I’ll just spend an hour clearing more furniture for Wednesday moving.

Dinner? Dinner?!? Are you kidding? I’m too tired! (be thankful I got around to a load of laundry on Saturday!)